Tuning device



Oct. 6 1925 1,555,986

B. C. KEEFER,JR., ET AL TUNING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1923 Patented Oct.6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUA C. KEEFER, JR., AND EUGENE W. GALETTI, F VILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYL-VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BRUA C. KEEFER MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, OF WIL-LIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TUNING DEVICE.

Application led May 29, 1923. Serial No. 642,279.

To all whom 'it 01mg/ concern Be it known that BnUA C. Kurven, Jr.,

and EUGENE 1V. GALETTI, citizens of the lnited States, residing atlVilliaiuspoi-t, county of Lycoming, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improvement in Tuning Devices, ot which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to musical wind instruments and has referenceparticularly to tuning devices for slide troinbones and likeinstruments.

The invention aims to provide for easy and convenient assembling andmanipulation ot the instrument and the tuning device, which may beincorporated in existing types of instruments with slight changes,whereby to facilitate accurate adjustments and hold the movable parts ofthe instrument in tuned relation.

Other objects and advantages oit our invention will appear in the'following ded scription of the illustrative embodiment shown in thedrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trombone embodying one form of ourimproved tuning device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the form of improved tuningdevice shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a trombone of the well knowntype having a bell 1 and the usual U-shaped slide 2 carrying the tuningdevice 3 which is telescopically mounted on and forms a rearwardextension of said slide, whereby the proper intonation may be obtained.The slide 2, together with the tuning device, are removable from thelong tube 4 (see Fig. 2) and mouth tube 5 of the instrument.

In the form of instrument shown, the tube 5 for the month piece issecured to the long tube f1 which leads to the bell by means ot a crossbrace 6 to prevent the mouth piece from moving with the slide.

The bell and associated flared tube portion of the instrument may becontinuous around the first U bend 7 and preferably taken on the linehas cross braces S at convenient intervals to brace this portion to thelong tube 1. lf desired, the long tube il, which telescopes in the topleg of the slide, as seen in Fig. 1, may be telescoped over the end otthe bell tube attached thereto by means ot a suitable coupling 9 so asto facilitate removal of the slide together with the mouth piece,thereby permitting compact storage in an instrument case.

ln the form of the invention illustrated, our improved tuningl device 3,is telescopically mounted on the rear ends of the legs o't the slide 2(Figs. 1 and 2), and preferably coniprises two short sections of tubing10 connected together rigidly by a cross brace 11. The rear ends of thetubing sections engage beads 12 on the long tube i1- and mouth tube 5,respectively, to limit the movement of the slide.

ln order to change from high to low pitch and to adjustthe intonation otthe instrument as desired, the timing device 3 may be moved toward oraway from the U bend ot the slide 2, thereby changing the el'lgectivelength of the whole system ot tubing. To accomplish accurate adjustmentsot the tuning device 3 we have provided a cross brace 13 on the legs otthe slide 2, and an adjusting screw 1-1- is connected to this crossbrace and to the brace 11, passing through sleeves 15 and 15 secured insaid cross braces. The screw has a knurled enlarged portion 16 betweenthe braces, 'for manipulation by the linger or thumb of the user. Theshoulder at the left cud of the knurled portion (Fig. 2) abuts againstthe end oi the sleeve 15 in the brace 11 and the shoulder 17 at theright end forms a limiting stop for th e device when it is moved to theright. The lett end of the screw is swivelled in the cross brace 11;that is, it is freely rotatable in the sleeve or bearing 15a and has aretaining collar 18 removably secured on its end in engagement with theleft end ot the bearing sleeve 15a Screw threads 19 are cut from theshoulder 17 to the right end of the screw and are threaded through thesleeve 15 iu the cross brace 13. A threaded collar 20 forming a limitingstop for the device is preferably secured on the end ot the screw bymeans of a set screw or the like.

Now, it it is desired to change the adjustment of the tuning slide 3 theoperator will ill turn the screw 14 in the proper direction, by theknurled portion, and thereb adjust the tuning device to the right or let to shorten or lengthen the effective length of the slide. After propertuning is effected, the screw will hold the tuning device on the slidein its adjusted position. It will be observed that the outer limit ofthe adjustments is governed by the position of the collar 2() which isadjustable on the screw. Also when the tuning device is set in positionfor proper intonation the collar 20 may be screwed into engagement withthe sleeve 15 and then secured to the screw (see the dotted position inFig. 2) thereby enabling the user to reset the tuning device quickly incase of accidental displacement.

Further, it will be noted that the timing device 3 may be removed fromthe legs ot' the slide 2 without disturbinv the adjustment or setting ofthe screw, by simply removing the collar 18 from the left end of thescrew and then sliding it off. Thus, no readjust-ment of the timingdevice is required upon re-assembling.

Obviously our invention is susceptible of various changes.

'hat we claim and desire to Letters Patent is:

1. In a tuning device for slide trombones and the like, the combinationof a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubes thereof andslidable therewith, a cross brace on the tuning member having a bearingsleeve therein, a cross brace on the sliding tubes having a threadedsleeve therein, an adjusting screw swivelly mounted and removablysecured in said bearing sleeve and threaded through said threadedsleeve, manipulating means on the screw between said cross braces andstops for limiting the movement of said tuning member' in bothdirections.

2. In a tuning device for slide trombones secure by and the like, thecombination of a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubesthereof and slidable therewith, a cross brace on the tuning memberhaving a bear` ing sleeve therein, a cross brace on the sliding tubeshaving a threaded sleeve therein, an adjusting screw swivelly mountedand removably secured in said bearing sleeve and threaded through saidthreaded sleeve, manipulating means on the screw between said crossbraces, said manipulating mem forming a limiting stop for the .tuningmember in one direction and adjustable stop means secured on the screwto limit movement of the tuning member in the other direction. -v fj,

3. A tuning device for slide trombones and the like, comprising, incombination, a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubesthereof, a cross brace on said,

tuning member, a cross brace on said sliditll tubes, an adjusting screwswivell moun in one of said cross braces an threaded through andprojecting beyond the other cross brace, a removable retaining means 0nthe swivelled end of said screw and manipulating means on said screwbetween said cross braces.

4. A tuning device for slide trombones and the like, comprising, incombination, a

timing member telescopically mounted onV the ends of the sliding tubesthereof, a cross brace on said sliding tubes, a cross brace on saidtuning member, adjusting means for the tuning member swivell)7 connected-ito one of said cross braces.4 and threaded through and projectingbeyond the other cross brace, and mampulating means on said adjustingmeans between said cross braces.

In testimony whereof, we have names to this specification.

BRUA o. KEEFER, JR. EUGENE w. GALETTI.

signed our

